JI presses govt to cut petroleum levy

A Jamaat-e-Islami delegation led by Liaquat Baloch met federal ministers on Monday and urged the government to seek a permanent reduction in petroleum costs, including a cut in the petroleum levy.

The delegation held talks with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, receiving a briefing on the petroleum sector, fuel supplies and the pricing mechanism.

Ali Pervaiz Malik told the delegation that the government had ensured uninterrupted fuel supplies across the country during the recent crisis.

The Jamaat-e-Islami delegation welcomed the government’s fuel relief measures but stressed that temporary steps were not enough.

Liaquat Baloch called for permanent solutions to issues affecting consumers and specifically raised the need to reduce the petroleum levy.

During the meeting, government officials briefed the delegation on the petroleum pricing mechanism, including the use of a seven-day rolling average in determining prices.

Malik said the government was taking comprehensive measures to protect consumers and ensure the continued availability of petroleum products.

He said targeted subsidies were being provided for motorcycles, Chingchi rickshaws and small vehicles to channel relief towards lower-income and deserving segments of society.

The petroleum minister said targeted subsidies were a more effective way of providing support to those who needed it most.

Malik also briefed the delegation on refinery upgrades, saying the programme would increase the production of Euro-V fuel as well as domestic petrol and diesel output.

He said modernisation of refineries would help reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said providing relief to the public remained a top priority of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Bilal Azhar Kayani said the government was also taking steps to broaden the tax base and increase the share of direct taxation.

The federal ministers assured the Jamaat-e-Islami delegation that its recommendations, including proposals relating to petroleum prices and the levy, would be conveyed to the prime minister.